The weather was nearly perfect for Sully's Star Spangled Spectacular Fourth of July Celebration July 2-4, 2016. Hundreds of locals, former residents and their families, and special guests came to town.

A drizzly Saturday morning didn't stop 33 tractor drivers from participating in the Sully Fourth of July Tractor Ride on July 2 to Monroe for a morning snack break, to Pella for lunch, and back to Sully through Peoria. After postponements the past two years due to rain, this year they decided to have the ride rain or shine, but the weather may have cut down on those participating.

Saturday afternoon and evening before the fireworks, Peoria Team won the Fourth of July softball tournament over Caleb Vander Molen's Team, Jacob Van Manen's Team, and Kelsey Rozenboom's Team.

Cool temperatures, cloud cover, and 320 registered participants made a very successful 21st Annual Sully Freedom Fun Run Monday morning, July 4. Runners spanned the ages of toddlers in the kids' run around the square to a 5K runner in her 70s. Skyler Giddings of LeMars was the 5K male winner in 17:03. Jessica Alley of Ames was the overall female winner in the 5K with a time of f18:22.

Around 75 parade entries celebrated the United States' 240th birthday on July 4. Parade winners were:

HORSES: 1. Dan Terpstra of New Sharon nd his pony Queen; 2. Marcus and Amanda Hoksbergen of Gilman with wto miniature donkeys; 3. Perchoer-pony cross team and wagon owned by Dick and Marlene SMith of Searsboro.

Winners in the adult firemen's waterfights were:

Tony Van Wyk of Sully Fire Department

Kurt Steenhoek of Monroe Fire Department

Jeremy Vander Molen of Sully Fire Department.

Winners in the kids' waterfights were:

Age 4, Gavin Gannaway

Ages 5-6, Landon Van Wyk

Ages 7-8, Cambria Van Dyke

Ages 9-10, Paige Safly

Ages 11-12, Luke Kramer

Concluding the celebration was a four-hour tractor pull near the Sully Public Works building in the business park on the west side of town. Harris Vos of Newton won five pulls in five weight classes: 5,500, 6,000, 6,500, 8,500,, and 9,500. Results follow.

As I sit here to type this, I am looking back at the past few months and what has happened. One word that comes to mind is "blessed."

We in our community are blessed to be able to celebrate our freedom in this great country the way we do. Our celebration always starts the same way each year and for that I am thankful. We are blessed to have people who spend many hours getting ready for, setting up, and running the Fourth of July celebration, as well as cleaning up afterwards.

We have something that we in the community should be very proud of.

Just an update, we were hoping to have 1st Street resurfaced by now, but the county had a delay. It is to be done yet this year the last we have heard. The city has to pay for this but we will be doing it with the county so this should make bids come in lower than if we did this on our own.

Concerning the stage/shelter in central park, we are still needing to put stone on this and install a drinking fountain as well as a faucet. The drinking fountain and faucet have not been put on due to waiting for the stone so we can try to match it.

In conclusion of this update, I would like to thank all the people who make this community a great place to call home and raise our children.

The first movie in Sully Central Park will be at dusk (approximately 9 p.m. and you can pick your spot starting at 7 p.m.) on Saturday, June 11, sponsored by Sully Lions Club, Sully Development, and City of Sully. The family- and kid-friendly movie “Zootopia” will be shown on an inflatable screen with a 16’ x 12’ viewing area. Admission will be free. Concessions will be available, including Zimm’s Kettle Corn and pop and water by the Hometown Pride Committee available for purchase on the multipurpose court. Deep Rock Ice Cream Shoppe will also remain open during the movie. Admission is free

Authored by Violet LeVoit and released in 2016, “Zootopia” is rated PG and is 108 minutes in length. Directors are Byron Howard and Rich Moore.

In a city inhabited by anthropomorphic animals who have abandoned traditional predator/prey roles in favor of civilized coexistence, uptight rabbit police officer Judy Hopps (voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin) is forced to work with charismatic fox con artist Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman) to crack a major case involving the mysterious disappearance of some carnivorous citizens. But when a few of the missing critters reappear, having reverted to pre-enlightenment savagery, it exposes existing anti-carnivore prejudice among the city's herbivores that threatens to damage the fabric of their diverse metropolis. Shakira, Idris Elba, J.K. Simmons, Nate Torrence, Jenny Slate, Tommy Chong, Octavia L. Spencer, Bonnie Hunt, Alan Tudyk, Don Lake, and John DiMaggio also lend their voices.

Lynnville-Sully High School track teams took the opportunity to shine at the state-qualifying track meet May 12 at Belle Plaine High School. The Hawks rose to the challenge to compete against track stars from the athletically loaded South Iowa Cedar League Conference and delivered several performances worthy of a state track meet appearance. The Hawks were represented by 18 athletes competing in 13 events at the Class 1A state track meet at Drake University in Des Moines May 19-21.

Another local athlete from Pella Christian – Lizzy Van Manen, daughter of Lonnie and Amy Van Manen –competed in the Class 2A state track meet. At the district meet at Van Meter High School on May 12, Van Manen set a new school record in the discus with a 129’7” throw, good for a first-place finish and a state meet qualification. The local junior threw the discuss 25'8" for sixth-place in Class 2A at the state meet on May 20.

Plans are in the works for the annual July 4th Celebration. Fireworks will be Saturday, July 2 at dusk with rain date on Monday, July 4; the parade and regular activities will be on Monday, July 4. Watch for further details and schedule of events to be posted later.